Abstract: A rack-based system for carrying information technology equipment has a rack for mounting the equipment. The rack includes multiple uniform bays each sized to receive a server sled. The system includes an optical network having optical interconnect attachment points at a rear of each bay and fiber-optic cabling extending from the optical interconnect attachment points to preselected switching elements. Multiple server sleds including compute sleds and storage sleds are slidable into corresponding bays so as to connect to the optical network using blind mate connectors at a rear of each server sled.

Abstract: A method of improving the signalling performance reliability of an interface between a signalling agent and a network element. In the case of a non-redundant signalling agent, a primary link is established between a first Layer 2 port of the signalling agent and a first Layer 2 port of the network element; and, a primary backup link is established between a second Layer 2 port of the signalling agent and a second Layer 2 port of the network element. During normal operation of the primary link, the primary link is maintained in an active state in which all signalling messages directed to the interface are transferred between the Layer 3 segments over the primary link. The primary backup link is maintained in a standby state in which the primary backup link is active between the second set of Layer 2 ports, but inactive between the Layer 3 segments.